<h2>About SIUE</h2>
<p>You can become part of the excitement that is SIU Edwardsville, a nationally recognized university that educates and develops professional and community leaders through its excellent faculty and programs. With a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1, we offer the advantages of a small, liberal arts college with the lowest <a href="https://www.siue.edu/prospectivestudents/tuition_and_fees_QA.shtml">tuition</a> of all 12 of the state universities in Illinois.</p>
<p>In addition, our emphasis on <a target="_blank" href="/academics/degrees.shtml">undergraduate education</a>, complemented by faculty research, creates practical applications for student learning. And, at SIUE, students interact with faculty at all levels, a critical factor in academic success.</p>
<p>Only 25 minutes from downtown <a href="http://explorestlouis.com/" target="_blank">St. Louis </a>—with its nationally known Fortune 500 companies, professional sports venues, cultural offerings and transportation that puts you within minutes of just about anywhere in the Metro Area— the SIUE campus is situated on 2,660 acres of beautiful, forested woodland atop the bluffs overlooking the natural beauty of the Mississippi River's rich bottom land.</p>
<p>We have<strong> </strong>been shaping the future in the St. Louis Metro Area since 1957, offering quality undergraduate study and programming forged with a solid commitment to the <a target="_blank" href="/community/business/economicdevelopment.shtml">economic development </a>of Southwestern Illinois.</p>
<p>As important as location, affordability, and teacher-student ratios, we are an institution with a clear purpose and a clear mission. There is ample evidence that we have achieved excellence in undergraduate education and that we are a premier metropolitan University:</p>
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<li>SIUE’s <a href="http://www.siue.edu/showcase/senior_assignment.shtml">Senior Assignment Program </a> has been heralded by the Association of American Colleges and Universities as a national model in the effectiveness of academic programs offered. For the fifth consecutive year, <em>U.S.News & World Report </em>has listed SIUE in the senior capstone experience category, among 17 universities—including Yale, Harvard, MIT and Princeton—for its comprehensive program measuring the competency of graduating seniors. And, <em>U.S. News </em>continues toname SIUE among <a target="_blank" href="/news/bestCollege.shtml">America’s Best Colleges </a>because of this assessment program, which engages students and enriches their academic experience.</li>
<li>Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, during the current academic year, has been cited by its peers and reported in <em>U.S.News</em> <em>& World Report</em> as an “up and coming school firmly focused on improving the job they’re doing today.”</li>
<li>And, SIUE is among the top 15 public universities in <em>U.S. News’</em> Midwest-Master’s category for the third consecutive year and also is in the top one-third of all public and private Midwestern universities. <em>U.S News</em> bases its overall scores on the academic preparedness of students, graduation rates, faculty characteristics and the reputation of SIUE in higher education.</li>
<li>The School of Engineering houses the <a href="http://www.siue.edu/ENGINEER/SIAM/" target="_blank">Southwestern Illinois Advanced Manufacturing </a> (SIAM) initiative, a partnership with the local high school and community college. It allows students to take advanced coursework early on and then transfer easily into the engineering industry.</li>
<li>The <a href="http://www.siue.edu/education/">School of Education’s </a><strong> </strong>curriculum is such that students can either choose to teach or go into professional positions. Over 40 percent of Education graduates go into non-teaching positions upon graduation.</li>
<li>Ninety-four percent of our 2006 School of Education graduates reported being satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of their teacher preparation program. In addition, 96 percent reported being satisfied or very satisfied with their interaction with the teacher preparation faculty.</li>
<li>Biology and Chemistry graduates in the <a href="http://www.siue.edu/artsandsciences">College of Arts and Sciences </a> are regularly accepted and do well in medical and dental schools</li>
<li>The <a href="http://www.siue.edu/nursing" target="_blank">School of Nursing </a> uses the most sophisticated, state-of-the-art, simulated learning lab in the region, serving an enrollment of students that is at an all-time high.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.siue.edu/dentalmedicine">SIU School of Dental Medicine </a> graduates consistently rank high among the nation’s 54 dental schools on national board exams.</li>
<li>The <a href="http://www.siue.edu/eslc">SIUE East St. Louis Center </a><strong> </strong>serves as a national model for how universities can empower people and strengthen communities.</li>
<li>More than $14.6 million in state, federal and private <a href="http://www.siue.edu/graduate/">grants</a> was allocated in 2008-09 to the<strong> </strong>East St. Louis Center for its programs.</li>
<li>The Carnegie Commission categorizes SIUE as primarily a <a href="http://www.siue.edu/housing">residential campus </a>. We provide student life activities comparable to many larger universities.</li>
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